ROME - Italy hope to forget their disastrous 2014 when they host defending Six Nations champions Ireland in their tournament opener on Saturday.
Italy captain Sergio Parisse (L) and his Irish counterpart Paul O'Connell, whose sides face off in their Six Nations opener on Saturday, pose with the new tournament trophy in London on January 28, 2015
Since becoming the 'sixth' nation in 2000, Italy have repeatedly battled, often along with Scotland, to avoid the indignity of finishing bottom of the table among Europe's elite rugby union nations.
Although 2013 saw real signs of progress with victories over Ireland and France, Italy lost all of their Six Nations matches last year to finish with the dreaded wooden spoon.
Starting this year's tournament against an Irish side that Italy coach Jacques Brunel has dubbed "the best side in the northern hemisphere" does not look ideal on paper for the home side.
But the Frenchman, who earlier this week said he has no plans to renew his contract when it runs out in 2016, has embraced the challenge.
Brunel has called for Italy to make the most of their three home games at the Stadio Olimpico, beginning with a performance against the Irish that will show Italy are not so far below the more "traditional" rugby playing nations.
"It's a year in which we have three home games, so we owe it to ourselves to win at home. I'm convinced we're not that far off the other big nations," Brunel said.
"This first match will give us an idea of how we stand. It won't be the easiest because the Irish are favourites, they're confident, and they won almost everything last year.
"We're hoping they won't be at their very best in their first game of the tournament.
"But for us to win, we need 100 percent precision and 100 percent efficiency. We can't afford to be at 70 of 80 percent."
Lacking those crucial percentages was Italy's key problem during a disastrous 2014, in which they suffered 10 defeats and won only once.
- Not far from victory -
Following last year's tournament Italy conceded defeats to Fiji, Samoa and Japan on their summer tour.
In the wake of their sole win, over Samoa in November, Italy showed promise in a narrow 20-18 defeat to Argentina and a heavier 22-6 loss to South Africa.
Yet Brunel believes Italy have never been far from victory in several of those defeats.
"Over the past two years we suffered two last-minute defeats to Scotland, two narrow defeats to Argentina, pushed England hard at Twickenham (2013), and in June suffered defeat to Japan and Fiji in matches we should have won," he said.
In November, "we had the chance to beat Argentina, against South Africa we were trailing only 15-6 at half-time and on a par with the second best team in the world.
"That makes about six or seven games we lost out on through our lack of efficiency."
Italy have won only four of their previous 23 matches with Ireland, who last year whipped the Azzurri 46-7 in Dublin to more than make amends for their 22-15 loss to Brunel's men in 2013.
Despite this being the first Six Nations tournament without retired centre great Brian O'Driscoll, it would be hard to bet against the Irish avenging their defeat in Rome two years ago.
Ireland proved there was life after 'BOD' by winning all three of their recent November Tests, which included victories over South Africa (29-15) and Australia (26-23).
Sean O'Brien has been included in the Ireland starting side just days after returning to competitive action.
The British and Irish Lions flanker is set to play his first Test since November 2013 when Ireland begin the defence of their title in Rome following two shoulder reconstruction operations.
But 14 months on the sidelines ended when the 27-year-old O'Brien played for the second-string Irish Wolfhounds against the England Saxons on January 30.
Now a shoulder injury to fellow back-row Jamie Heaslip has paved the way for the 30-times capped O'Brien to play for the full Ireland side for the first time since their heart-breaking 24-22 defeat by world champions New Zealand in November 2013.